April 18 2013

2:24 PM

Davis had eight birdies in the opening round of the RBC Heritage. (Cohen/Getty Images)

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Three years ago, Brian Davis called a penalty on himself during a playoff against Jim Furyk at Harbour Town.

Thursday, karma paid him back.

Davis shot a 65 to take an early two-stroke lead over Marc Leishman and Jason Day in the RBC Heritage.

"It's good in this game to have a short memory, good or bad," Davis said. "I still have people stop me in the street or at the golf club or at airports. People do remember (the penalty), but for me I'm just trying to move on from that, and trying to win a golf tournament."

He's off to a good start.

Davis' score Thursday was his lowest of a somewhat disappointing season so far. In 10 starts this year, he has more missed cuts (five) than made (four) and his best finish, a tie for sixth in Houston, is his lone top 25.

At Harbour Town, though, Davis made eight birdies, including six in a seven-hole stretch, while taking just 24 putts.

The best of those birdies came early in the round for Davis.

After a bogey on the par-3 fourth hole, Davis bounced back with a birdie on the next hole before chipping in for another on No. 6 for the second of what would be three in a row.

"It's one of them things, next hole I left myself an easy, easy chip, and I played great golf after that," Davis said. "I was just playing golf. I wasn't worried about my score or about my misses, I was just playing.

"Whenever you get that feeling, it's always a great feeling to have because it's enjoyable. When you're worrying about where you don't want to hit it, which around this course you have to, it can weigh you down."